Panel fence



Dec. 18, 1962 c. E. KESSLER 3,069,142

PANEL FENCE Filed Feb. 25, 1960 CARL E. KESSLER IN VENTOR.

BY WM A TTORNE Y United States Patent Ofilice 3,069,142 Patented Dec.18, 1962 Texas Filed Feb. 25, 1960, Ser. No. 10,918 1 Claim. (Cl.256-34) This invention relates to fences and has reference to a panelfor attachment to .a fence of the chain link type.

Durability and low cos-t construction have led to widespread use ofchain link fences. These fences utilize lengths of machine woven wirefabrics supported by standardized tubular members and joints to formenclosures of great economic advantage over other types of fences ofcomparable permanence. Where the purpose of a fence is merely to markproperty lines or to restrain animals, the visually unobstructing natureof chain link fences may be an asset. On the other hand, where privacyis desired or where a wind break is needed the chain link type fence, byitself, is unsatisfactory. The same standardization which produceseconomy results in a uniformity of appearance which, when extendedthroughout a neighborhood, lacks expressiveness and distinctiveness forthe complimentary tastes of individual property owners and producesdrabness and conformity in suburban areas.

Since the chain link fences marketed by different manufacturers are ofsubstantially uniform construction, differing primarily in strandspacings and minor ornamental features of supporting structures, itwould be desirable to have specially adapted accessories such as panelscapable of converting existing fences into modified surfaces, and inmass producing these accessories to achieve similar economies. It wouldbe particularly desirable to provide standard panel components whichcould be quickly and simply secured to a fence in various patterns andcombinations to simultaneously achieve a change in the function of thefence and a distinctive appearance individually composed to harmonizewith other property improvements.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide anaccessory panel for chain link fences.

Another object is to provide a panel which is light in weight and whichcan utilize features of construction of chain link fences for alignmentand support.

A further object of the invention is to provide a panel which may beheld by its own spring tension on a chain link fence.

Another object of the invention is to provide panels which may bedemountably secured to a chain link fence in a variety of patterns andarrangements.

A particular object of the invention is to provide a panel which mayquickly .and easily be applied to -a chain link fence by an unskilledworkman and which will tend to pass easily between the intermeshes ofthe wire fabric of the fence.

Another object of the invention is to provide an integr-al clip forlocking a panel to .a chain link fence.

These and other objects will become apparent from the followingdescription and the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary elevational view of a chainlink fence withpanels as defined herein.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken on line 22 in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a broken perspective view of the invention illustrating apreferred embodiment of an end clip therefor.

FIGURE 5 is a broken perspective view of the invention showing analternate embodiment of end clip construction and illustrating featuresof construction at opposite ends of a panel.

FIGURE 6 is a reduced elevational view of a chain link fence showingdiagonally spaced panels, as defined herein, attached thereto.

FIGURE 7 is a reduced elevational view of a chain link fence showingadjacent panels secured and diagonally reinforced thereon.

FIGURE 8 is a reduced elevational view of a chain link fence havingpanels interwoven with the strands thereof.

FIGURE 9 is a broken perspective view of the invention illustratinganother alternative embodiment of an end clip thereof.

An understanding of the construction of a chain link type fence ispertinent to an explanation and description of the present invention.Generally, the fabric of a chain link fence may be envisioned as aseries of interlocking helical members compressed into a substantiallyflat structure. With particular reference to FIGURE 1, a pair of strandsa and b are twisted together at their upper ends and extend dive-rginglydownward with one strand b in a plane forwardly offset from the plane ofthe other strand a. The strands a and b are each entwined with strands cand d of adjacent pairs of wires and then extend convergingly downwardto entwinement with one another. At each intersection c, entwinementalternates the plane of a strand so that all portions extending downwardand to the right are in a plane which is forward of the common plane ofportions extending downward and to'the left. Hence, successive portionsof adjacent strands form a substantially continuous diagonal ridge f atone side of the fence.

If observers at opposite sides of a chain link fence simultaneously viewits construction, each sees forward diagonal ridges extending downwardlyand to the right. What one observer sees as a forward ridge 1, the othersees as a rearward ridge. Therefore, the fence may be described as aseries of forward coplanar diagonal ridges f and a series of rearwardcoplanar diagonal ridges g perpendicular thereto. The intertwiningportion e of adjacent strands constitute spacing members between theplanes of the forward and rearward ridges f and g. A series of troughsh, with rearward ridges g defining the base of each trough and withforward ridges f defining its longitudinal edges and with theintertwinings e of adjacent wire strands defining the sides thereof arethus formed in .one side of the fence (FIGURE 2) and troughs iperpendicular thereto are likewise formed in the obverse side (FIGURE3).

With specific reference to the invention, a series of panels 10, 1 1,:12, 13 and 14 are shown in FIGURE 1 respectively positioned withinadjacent troughs h of a chain link fence. Each panel Ill-14 is anelongate plate of transversely arched flexible sheet metal which isnormally straight with respect to its longitudinal axis. Panels 10-14are equal in length although it is to be understood that panels nearends of a fence or in special applications may be suitably cut torequired length either before or after installation.

The width of each panel 10-414 corresponds to the spacing between ridgesf of the fence. Reference to FIG- URES 2 and 3 shows that intersectingwires form a greater width in section between the planes of thediagonally extending portions of the strands than they do at the planesthemselves, and the width of each panel 10-14 is slightly greater thanthe distance between intertwined portions of strands e intermediate theplanes of the ridges 1.

All corners 15 of each panel 10-14 are arcuately formed to providetapered shoulders at opposite ends of the panel.

Each panel 1044 is fastened to the uppermost diagonal strand in the baseof its trough by a clip 16 integrally constructed with the panel. Theclips 16a and 16b in FIGURE 1 are integral and substantially rectangularextensions on corresponding ends of the panels 12-, 13 and 14 and arebent to engage the uppermost diagonal strand of each trough as lastreferred to. Alternate embodiments of the clip construction are shown inFIGURES 4, 5 and 9. The clip 16 shown in FIGURE 4 is comprised of a flap17 formed as a substantially rectangular continuation of the upper endof the panel 10-14 and having the corners 18 of its extended endarcuately receded and having its lateral edges 19 flared at its junctionwith the upper end of the panel. As shown by dotted lines in FIGURE 4,this form of the clip may be erected in an S-shape for stacked shipmentof the panels and may be pressed downwardly and rearward'ly by thumbpressure before or during installation.

In a second form of construction (FIGURE 5) the clip 16 is made as apartially severed leaf 20 of circular shape which is joined at its upperend to the remainder of the panel; when the leaf is folded from itsaperture 21 and receives a strand of Wire therebeneath, the free end ofthe leaf may be folded around the wire and back through the aperturewhere it will be received with increased clearance due to foreshorteningby its displacement around the wire.

As a third alternate embodiment (FIGURE 9) the clip 16 is formed as anelongated severance 22 in the body of the panel with the upper end ofthe clip continuous with the panel and with the lower end of the clipenlarged and provided with relatively fiat shoulders 23 at its juncturewith the remainder of the clip. This form of the clip 16 may be pressedoutwardly of the panel to receive a wire strand therebeneath. Theenlarged end of the clip may then be slightly twisted about itslongitudinal axis and passed back through its aperture where theenlarged end is untwisted to form a locking type connection between thepanel and the strand.

The invention is adapted for installation in a variety of patterns andinterlocking relationships. As shown in FIGURES 1 and 8, a panel 12 maybe woven under one or more of the base strands in a trough h. Therounded ends 15 of the panel serve as guides for reintroduction of thepanel 12 into the trough immediately adjacent such underweaving andprovide clearance between the upper end of the panel and the uppermostentwinement of each pair of strands a and b. Once a series of panels1014 have been placed in adjacent troughs 11, they may be furthersecured by introduction of additional panels 24 positioned forwardly ofthe troughs h and the panels 1044 therein and rearwardly of strandsforming ridges f of the troughs; it is thus seen that panelsperpendicularly disposed to one another tie in the separate troughs hand i viewed from opposite sides of the fence and mutually secure oneanother therein. Decorative patterns may be formed by alternating orspacing panels (FIGURE 6) so installed and the decorative values may befurther enhanced by so alternating panels of various colors or shades ofa color.

The invention is not limited to the exemplary construction herein shownand described, but may be made in various ways within the scope of theappended claim.

What is claimed is:

In combination with a chain link fence having diagonally disposedparallel troughs therein formed by intertwining adjacent strands,elongate sheet metal panels received within said troughs, said panelsbeing transversely arched and having arcuately formed corners at theirlower ends, and having integral clips at their upper ends positioned toengage that strand transversely disposed with reference to the trough inwhich the panel is received.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS621,496 Johnson et al. Mar. 21, 1899 825,916 Mahaffy July 17, 19062,760,759 Rice Aug. 28, 1956 2,954,964 OHafiey Oct. 4, 1960 FOREIGNPATENTS 725,998 Great Britain Mar. 16, 1955

